Surprise: Drugstores Are Making the Best Retail Mobile Apps

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So it turns out mobile shopping is kind of a thing. Mobile is screwing up big box stores, changing the way people shop sales, and engaging customers with social media. So which retailers are winning the mobile app war? A study by Xtreme Labs evaluating the US's top 100 retailers takes a look.

The report tabulated user ratings in the Apple App Store and Google Play between January 16 and January 24 of this year. Here's what they found:

Top Retailer Apps on iPhone:
1. Walgreens
2. CVS
3. Chick-fil-A
4. Ikea
5. Subway

Top Retailer Apps on iPhone:
1. CVS
2. Amazon
3. Nordstrom
4. Barnes & Noble
5. Best Buy
6. Walgreens

The study points out that CVS and Walgreens—both humble drugstores—were the only two retailers to make the top cut on both platforms. Both apps are what's referred to as "'utility' apps," which fulfill everyday customer needs. Forbes summarizes: "Users can manage their pharmacy prescriptions such as fill out rapid refills, find deals on products, and make orders that they can then pick up in their local store. There's mobile-focused shopping with free shipping, but the experience is oriented toward improving a user's in-store experience."

Kohl's, on the other hand, was the lowest rated apparel retailer on both iOS and Android. According to Forbes, they lost points for redirecting shoppers from the app to a hard-to-read website to make a purchase, and failing to tie in the app to the in-person experience with offerings like special deals and pickup ability at brick-and-mortar stores.
· The Surprising Retail Winner In Mobile Apps [Forbes]
· Are You Guilty of Showrooming? [Racked]
· Macy's Ranked #1 Online Retailer of 2012 [Racked]